Best Craft Beer Shops In Sacramento

With nearly 40 craft breweries now operating in the Sacramento region, there are plenty of pubs where you can drink some of the best of California brews. But for those days when you want to enjoy a beer at home, you need not be limited to cans of Bud or 40's of Colt 45 from the neighborhood grocery store. These Sacramento small businesses allow you to take home micro-brewed goodness from beer makers both local and international.

Capitol Beer And Tap Room
2222 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 922-1745
www.capitolbeer.com

Beer lovers come to the taproom for a pint from the 20 beers on tap, but many flock to Capitol's impressive bottle shop. An extensive array of craft beers are available as singles or in packs, each handpicked for quality and uniqueness. Newly available brews are listed on the business's website, and reps from local breweries are occasionally scheduled in to chat with shoppers about their beers. Recent additions to the bottle shop include Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin, Boo Koo Mosaic IPA by Mother Earth Brewing, New Belgium Pear Ginger Beer, Shady Oak Barrel House's Bokonon Funky Wild Saison and the extremely potent 7th anniversary Cuivre from The Bruery.

Corti Brothers
5810 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 736-3800
www.cortibrothers.com

Corti is a specialty grocer and deli that features fine wines, food, beer and other tasty delights from around the world. The bottled beer section is not huge in size but is vast in scope, origin and style. Recent brews include Arizona Wilderness Sophomoric Saison, 18th Street Brewery's Citra-infused farmhouse ale and the smoky, sweet honey-laced Old Smoked Bock by Meantime Brewing. Opsal Sacramento Rice Cream Ale and Swiss Rifle Club Batch 77 Barley Bunker is available from Ruhstaller, and patrons can also pick up Clown Shoes Photosphere Phil, Great Basin Outlaw Milk Stout and the heavy blonde Deliria, reportedly brewed only one day a year by women at Delirium in honor of International Women's Day.

Related: Watch Sports For Free: Top 5 Sports Bars In Sacramento

Curtis Park Market
2703 24th St.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 456-6488
www.facebook.com/CurtisParkMarket

This unassuming market has an astonishing selection of microbrews, along with fine wines, spirits and grocery items. Hop fans will appreciate the choices for India Pale Ales, including from brewing companies Russian River, Knee Deeps, Saint Archer, Ballast and Kern River. Special releases, some sold with a limit of one per person, have included Avery Tweak and a barleywine ale and coffee stout from Bourbon County Brand. Check out brews like Silva Stout, a bourbon barrel aged black ale by Green Flash, and Russian River Brewing Company's Sanctification and Beatification.

Yolo Brewing Company
1520 Terminal St.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 379-7580
www.yolobrew.com

YBC sells a variety of its own handcrafted, small batch beers made with all-grain mash. Styles include a delicate, lightly-hopped blonde ale made with orange blossom honey, a rich, black oatmeal stout ale and a smooth, highly palatable American style hefeweizen. Pick up a bottle or growler of Scotch Ale, toasted caramel Nutty Brown, Nordy Pilsner, Engine 43 Pale Ale, hop-bomb Captain Ron's Double IPA or the light Wit Dream. Periodically there are special brews like Shaun's Spiced Ale, a Grand Reserve and Dopplebock for customers to purchase, with only four bottles allowed per person, per day. Yolo, created by the former owner of Brew It Up, is also the spot for people seeking to brew their own beer; more than 160 recipes are available.

RoCo Wine & Spirits
2220 Lake Washington Blvd., Suite 115
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 760-8135
www.facebook.com/pages/RoCo-Wine-Spirits

RoCo offers more than 1,400 beers, including bottle and kegs from many craft breweries in the Sacramento area. The store's Facebook page lists new items, sales and special deals, such as a limited supply of Terreux Sour In The ️Rye by Bruery. Check out Danger Ranger, a chicory-roasted imperial red from Twisted Manzanita, or Midnight Sun's cinnamon, chili and chocolate dark ale called Modern Romance. Sampler packs encourage patrons to support local breweries, with items like a 4-pack of beers made from different brewers in the West Sacramento Port Beer district.

Related: Best Up-And-Coming Local Brands In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits. Her work can also be found at Examiner.com.